Rotary engine.



G. F. MOORS. ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE19, 1911. 1,029,941

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Patented'June 18, 1912.

G. P. MOORS.

ROTARY ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19,1911.

Patented June 18, 1912.

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G. F. MOORS.

ROTARY ENGINE.

. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19,1911. 1,029,941 Patented June 18, 1912.

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APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19, 1911. 1,029,941

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Patented June 18, 1912;

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GEORGEFREDERICK MOORS, OF MOUNT VERNON, ILLINOIS.

ROTARY ENGINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. Moons, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in Mount Vernon, in the county of Jefferson and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Engines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specificat1on.

My invention relates to a rotary engine of the type wherein a piston in the form of an eccentric is connected with an abutment which oscillates in the cylinder, this invention being an improvement on the rotary engine shown in Patent No. 958,885, issued to me May 24, 1910.

One of the objects of the present invention is the production of a cushion or shock absorber for resisting the movement of the oscillating abutment to which the rotating piston is united, thereby relieving the engine of stresses which would otherwise occur when the abutment reaches the end of its stroke.

Another object is the production of a novel form of valve for controlling the passage of fluid under pressure to and from the cylinder. Also to provide means for adjustment of the valve to reverse the direction of rotation of the piston.

The invention also includes other features of construction hereinafter fully described.

Figure I is a side elevation of my engine, partly in section, one of the cylinder heads being removed. Fig. II is a horizontal sec tion taken approximately on line IIII, Fig. I. Fig. III is a longitudinal section taken through the valve and valve housing. Fig. IV is a side elevation, partly broken away, illustrating the valve operating devices. Fig. V is a horizontal section on line V--V, Fig. IV. Fig. VI is a section on line VIVI, Fig. v. Fig. v11 is a section on line VII-VII, Fig. I. Fig. VIII is a fragmentary view, illustrating a modification.

In the accompanying drawings: 1 designates a cylinder divided by a partition 2 into two compartments, and provided with removable heads 3 which form the outer walls of said compartments. A power shaft 4, passing through said compartments, is

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. June 19, 1911.

Patented June 18, 1912.

Serial No. 634,068.

journaled in the partition 2 and heads 3. Rotatably mounted in each compartment and fixed to the shaft 4 is a piston A. Each of said pistons is provided with one or more set screws 5 by which it may be adjusted to engage the circular face of the cylinder so as to produce a steam tight joint between the piston and cylinder. Each piston comprises an inner member 6 in the form of an eccentric which is rigidly secured to the power shaft 1 by set screws 5; a circular outer shell 7 having flanges 8 and 8 which overlap the inner member, the flange 8 being removably connected to said outer shell; and a circular series of anti-friction rollers 9 interposed between said inner and outer members. The outer shell 7 is closely fitted to the inner faces of the cylinder and to prevent fluid under pressure from leaking at the side faces of the piston, the flanges 8 and 8 are provided with circular grooves for the reception of packing rings 10. The outer faces of the packing rings are beveled as seen at 10 in Fig. VII and the grooves have correspondingly beveled faces. These packing rings 10 are formed of spring material and are compressed or reduced in diameter when placed in the grooves, so as to expand and ride outwardly on the inclined faces 10, and firmly engage the fiat side faces of the cylinder.

An arm 11, pivoted to the cylinder at 12, is fixed to an arcuate abutment 13, said abutment being closely fitted tot-he walls of a curved opening in the cylinder and connected to the outer shell of the piston so as to oscillate during the operation of the engine.

Each outer shell 7 has a pair ofcurved socket members 1 1 which partially embrace a cylindrical head 15 at the inner end of the abutment 13. These socket members 14- are fitted to curved recesses in the abutment 13 to produce a steam tight joint that will allow the abutme'nt 13 and outer shell 7 to rock independently.

Steam or other fluid under pressure is introduced into the upper left hand portion of the cylinder (see Fig. I), and exhausted at the upper right hand portion of the cylinder, as will be hereinafter fully described. The fluid pressure cannot escape around the abutment 13 and it therefore causes the pis- 1 ton shell 7 to move downwardly from the po- I sit-ion seen in Fig. I and carry with it the abutment 13. This downward movement of the abutment causes the eccentric 6 to rotate within the shell 7 until said shell engages the lowermost point in the cylinder, and as the pressure continues, the shell moves to the right and upwardly, causing the eccentric 6 to continue its rotary movement. It should be noted that the piste-11 shell 7 does not rotate but partakes of a rocking movement as it slides in contact with the cylinder walls; however, this movement of the piston shell causes the eccentric 6 to rotate and impart a rotary movement to the power shaft 4.

During the operation of the engine, the abutment 13 oscillates and the momentum acquired during its movement would cause the inner end of said abutment to strike hammer .blows on the socket members 14 if some means were not provided for relieving or cushioning the shocks. The abutment is therefore preferably provided with a spring or fluid cushion, the device herein shown being a dash pot formed by the hollow abutment 13 and a piston 16 loosely mounted in said abutment. The piston 16 is adjustably connected to a rigid arm 17 by means of bolts 18 adapted to pass through any of the apertures 19.

The inner end of the abutment 13 is provided with ducts 20 for conveying lubricant from the interior of the abutment to the engaging faces of the cylindrical heads 15 and socket members 14. For the purpose of supplying lubricant to the antifriction rollers 9 between the eccentric 6 and outer shell 7, a duct 21 is formed in the upper portion of the outershell. During the operation of the piston, the duct 21 will at certain times register with the duct 20 and allow the lubricant to flow from the duct 20, through duct 21, to the space between the eccentric 6 and shell 7. Whenever desired the lubricant may be drained from the piston by removing a plug 22 (see Figs. I and VII).

23 designates a rockable cylindrical valve arranged in a valve housing 24 and adapted to be operated to allow steam or other fluid to pass into and out of the cylinder 1. An inlet port 25 leads from the valve housing to the upper left hand portion of each of the cylinder compartments, (see Fig. I), said port leading into the cylinder at a point near the left hand side of abutment 13. Each cylinder head is provided with an exhaust port 26, (see Figs. I and II), leading from points near the right hand side of abutments 13 to passageways 27 in the upper portion of the cylinder, said passageways leading to ports 28 that communicate with the interior of the valve housing. The valve 23 is formed with a longitudinal partition 29 which divides it into an inlet compartment 30 and an exhaust compartment 31, the inlet compartment having ports 32 adapted to register with the inlet ports 25. Ports 33 in the upper port-ion of the valve allow fluid to pass from the exhaust ports 28 to the exhaust compartment 31.

Fluid under pressure is conducted to the inlet compartment 30 through an inlet head 34 '(Fig. III), and after being discharged from the cylinder 1, it passes from the exhaust compartment to an exhaust pipe 35. It will be understood that they valve is rocked automatically to admit fluid to the cylinder while the piston is passing from the inlet port 25 to the exhaust port 26 and, during this time, the valve also allows fluid to pass from the right hand side of the piston to the exhaust compartment 31. While the piston is' passing from the exhaust port to the inlet port, the valve is positioned to prevent fluid from entering the cylinder.

The means for operating the valve 23 comprises a stem 36 secured to the valve and passing through a stufling box in the inlet head 34, said stem having a sleeve 37 fixed to its outer end. The sleeve 37 is hinged at 38 to a yoke 39, and provided with a lug 40 which lies in a notch in said yoke. A clutch member 41, mounted on the sleeve 37, has teeth 42 and 43 adapted to mesh with a toothed lug 44 on the yoke 39. It should now be noted the clutch member 41 is con nected to the valve stem 36 through the medium of yoke 39 and sleeve 37, and that if a rocking movement is imparted to said clutch member, it will be transmitted to the valve stem. The clutch member 41 is provided with a crank pin 45 to which a connecting rod 46 is fitted, (Figs. III and IV).

47 designates a bell crank lever, pivoted at 48, and having one of its arms connected to the connecting rod 46, its other arm being pivoted to an eccentric rod 49. An eccentric strap 50, secured to the rod 49, surrounds an eccentric 51 on the power shaft 4. As the eccentric 51 moves around with the power shaft, the valve 23 is rocked by the mechanism just described to open and close the inlet as previously described.

To reverse the direction of rotation of the power shaft 4, the valve 23 is turned approximately one-half of a revolution by means of the yoke 39, so as to locate the inlet compartment 30 opposite the ports 28 and locate the exhaust compartment 31 opposite the ports 25. The yoke 39 is normally held engaged with the teeth 42 by a spring 52, but when it is desired to reverse the engine, the yoke is swung on its hinge 38 so as to disengage its lug 44 from the teeth 42 and thereafter the yoke is turned approximately one-half of a revolution and engaged with teeth 43 on the clutch member 41. This operation of the yoke 39 will rotate the valve 23 approximately one-half of a revolution and cause the fluid to enter the cylinder through ports 27 28 and 26, and exhaust through ports 25.

To, prevent the formation of a vacuum in the cylinder as the engine continues to run under its momentum after the fluid pressure has been shut OK, the partition 29 in valve 23 is provided with an opening which is normally closed by a check valve 53, (Fig. III). This check valve will remain closed while the cylinder is being supplied with fluid under pressure, but when the fluid pressure is shut off, said valve 53 will open in response to the piston movement.

To prevent the steam or other fluid which enters the valve housing 2% from shifting the valve 23 longitudinally, the valve stem 36 is provided with a collar 54:, and the inlet opening in the head 3a is located between said valve and collar, (as seen in Fig. III). The pressure between the valve 23 and collar 54 acts against both of said members with substantially equal force and does not cause the valve to shift toward the exhaust pipe. The collar 54 therefore serves as means for equalizing the pressure on the valve and prevents the valve from receiving end thrusts which would otherwise occur during the operation of the engine.

The head 55 to which the exhaust pipe 35 is secured, (Fig. III), is formed with a rib 56 having a threaded opening for the reception of av screw 57. This screw engages the end of valve 23 and serves as means for adjusting the valve longitudinally. The valve is preferably provided with a central tapered seat to receive the tapered end of the screw 57 This screw engages the end of valve 23 and serves as means for adjusting the valve longitudinally. The valve is preferably provided with a central tapered seat to receive the tapered end of the screw 57. In addition to serving as an adjusting device, the screw 57 holds the valve away from the exhaust head 55 and forms a seat or bearing which allows the valve to rock freely.

It will be understood that this invention is not limited to a rotary engine having a plurality of cylinders, and that a single piston and cylinder may be utilized, if desired, and in this event the exhaust port is preferably located near the abutment, as seen in Fig. VIII.

The cylinder 1 shown in Fig. VIII is provided with a piston A and an abut ment 13, the abutment being secured to an arm 11 pivoted to the cylinder at 12. The arm 11 is arranged in a recess in the outer face of the cylinder and does not move into the cylinder like the arm shown in Fig. I. By constructing the cylinder as shown in Fig. VIII, its entire inner face may be machined to closely fit the piston and the exhaust port 26 may be located at or very close to the abutment opening. This structure allows the piston to be impelled by the fluid pressure while it is passing around the cylinder from one face of the abutment to the other, and is very desirable in asingle cylinder engine.

To obtain high speed, less vibration and low fluid consumption, the piston may be enlarged in diameter with respect to the cylinder, as shown in Fig. VIII, and the abutment movement shortened by decreasing the throw of the eccentric forming part of the cylinder.

To take up lost motion and insure a steam tight connection between the piston and abutment, these parts may be connected, as seen in Fig. VIII. The inner end of the abutment 13, as here shown, is provided with a hollow neck 20' having an enlarged end which lies in a recess in the cylindrical head 15. One or more bolts 58 passing through the head 15 and neck 20 may be drawn upwardly by means of nuts 59 to cause the piston socket member 14 to positively engage the inner face of abutment 13.

I claim 1. In a rotary engine, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, an abutment pivoted to said cylinder and connected with the piston so as to oscillate in response to movements of said piston, and a shock absorber for said abutment, said shock absorber including a rigid piston adjustably connected to said cylinder.

2. In a rotary engine, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, a hollow abutment passing through a wall. of said cylinder and connected with the piston so as to move in response to movements of said piston, and a piston in said abutment, the last named piston being rigidly connected to the cylinder.

3. In a rotary engine, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, a valve housing, a valve in said housing for controlling the passage of fluid to and from the cylinder, a stem fixed to said valve, and an end thrust resisting member on said stem, said valve housing having an inlet opening for admitting fluid under pressure at a point between said valve and end thrust resisting member.

4. In a rotary engine, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, a valve housing, a

valve in said housing for controlling the passage of fluid to and from the cylinder, a stem fixed to said valve, and a collar on said stem, said valve housing having an in let opening for admitting fluid under pressure at a point between said valve and collar.

5. In a rotary engine, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, a valve housing, a rockable valve in said housing for controlling the passage of fluid to and from said cylinder, means for operating said Valve, a clutch member connected with said operatingmeans and provided with two sets of clutch teeth, and a member connected with said valve adapted to interlock with either of said sets of clutch teeth.

6. In a rotary engine, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, a valve housing, a rockable valve in said housing for controlling the passage of fluid to and from said cylinder, means for operating said valve, a clutch member connected with said operating means and provided with two sets of clutch teeth, a hinged yoke connected with said valve and adapted to interlock with either of said sets of clutch teeth, and means for holding said yoke engaged with said clutch member.

7. In a rotary engine, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, an abutment pivoted to said piston, and a connecting device for forcing said abutment into engagement with said piston.

8. In a rotary engine, a cylinder, a pisadjustable member connecting said head to said abutment.

9. In a rotary engine, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, said piston being pro vided with socket members, an abutment having a curved face which engages the exterior of said socket members, a cylindrical head fitted to the interior of said socket members, and a boltconnecting said cylindrical head to the abutment.

GEORGE FREDERICK MOORS.

In the presence of ALBERT B. OBEos'r, ADAI-i IVARD Cox.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

